Thunder take over top spot in NBA Power Rankings

Scott Cullen3/13/2014 5:11:55 PM

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The Oklahoma City Thunder have overtaken the Indiana Pacers for the top spot in the TSN.ca NBA Power Rankings.

While the Thunder have won four of six, and added veteran wing Caron Butler to their rotation, they could have been passed by the Los Angeles Clippers, if not for the Clippers missing Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick due to injuries. Even so, the Clips jumped from five to two.

Healthy, and winners of eight straight, the San Antonio Spurs are up from eight to five; the Minnesota Timberwolves are healthy and have won eight of 11, lifting them up from 16 to 12.

Even if their five-game winning streak came at the expense of non-playoff teams, that was enough for the New York Knicks to vault from 26 to 19.

The Portland Trail Blazers have lost four straight and star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge is hurt again, so they fall from 10 to 15.

Further down the chart, the Detroit Pistons sink from 19 to 23 and the Los Angeles Lakers drop from 23 to 28.

The Toronto Raptors, who have one regulation loss in the past nine games, remain at nine.